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Thursday, May 30, 2013

Photo Essay: Marine Corp Air Station & North Hangar, Tustin - Closed

"Where can't I go?" I asked the Orange County Parks ranger, stationed by the south doors of the North Hangar.

"You can go pretty much anywhere," he said, shrugging. "You can't get into the buildings, but that's pretty much it."

"OK, so I just won't hop any fences..." I said, as I waved and set off on my exploration.

And although it's currently owned by the Navy, the former Marine Corp Air Station - built in 1942, and then known as Lighter Than Air Station Santa Ana - is embarking on a groundbreaking transformation courtesy of Orange County and the City of Tustin.

And what's better - OC Parks is inviting the community (and looky-loos like me willing to drive a couple of hours) to come check the closed, once-restricted property out.

Slated to be a transformed into new regional park (as well as other land uses, both residential and commercial), the former MCAS is an 1500 acre parcel of land in Tustin that includes two huge blimp hangars, and a total of 200 buildings, seven of which OC Parks plans to adaptively reuse.

Of course, the plan to turn the MCAS into a regional park has been in the works since 1963.

Since being shuttered by the federal government, a few portions at a time between 1991-9, the base itself hasn't been used for much of anything...

...its structures predictably crumbling and peeling.

Of course, the entire base isn't abandoned per se, and not entirely vacant.

...and, of course, as a soundstage for movies (e.g. The Hindenberg), TV shows (JAG, The X-Files) and commercials.

The hangar is massive.

Photos don't do it justice.

Both hangars are one of the largest wood structures in the U.S., and the world's largest unsupported timber-constructed buildings...

...made primarily out of Oregon Douglas Fir...

...with nearly 300,000 square feet of floor space each.

That makes them three football fields long, and one football field wide, each.

Both hangars are 18 stories high.

But, based on current plans, only one hangar may survive: Hangar #1.

The park site is only slated to occupy 84.5 of the available 1500 acres on the MCAS property, and before anybody moves in or children start playing there, the contaminated groundwater plumes (largely as a result of seepage of fuel and solvents once used there) need to be addressed.

And then, the MCAS Tustin can be transformed into the dream development of the City of Tustin, Tustin Legacy.